Circuit controller



July 21 1942. Hfs. OGDEN 2,290,650

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed June 5. 1941 Inventor:

I: ,l Haro Icl SOgdeh,

.Y .......ml 'i .5 His Attmey.

' out interrupting the Patented July 2l, 1942 2,290,650 CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Harold S. Ogden,

Erie, Pa., asslgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 5,1941, Serial No. 396,679 Claims. (Cl. 171-312) My invention relates to circuit controllers and particularly to electro-pneumatically controlled switching mechanisms for the series eld of a dynamo-electric machine.

In Diesel-electric powe'r systems it is known to use the main generator as a motor to crank the internal combustion engine. In such systems it has also been found advantageous to provide the main generator with' a multiple section series field in combination with control means for cutting out a portion or all of the series field for full throttle operation. It has been found that the provision of a relatively large main generator series field during accelerating operation of the vehicle prevents racing of the internal combustion engine at low vehicle speeds and produces other advantageous system operating characteristics. Such a power system is described and claimed in a copending application of John C. Aydelott, Serial Number 396,685, filed June 5, 1941, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The present invention relates to a switching 'mechanism for controlling the generator series field in such' a power system.

Accordingly, the principal object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive switching system and mechanism for changing the series 1 field connections of a dynamo-electric machine while the machine -is in operation. v

It is a specific object of my invention to provide an electro-pneumatic series eld switching mechanism for controlling'the series i'leld connections of a dynamo-electric machine in a plurality of steps while the machine is in operation and withflow of power through the machine. y y

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, my invention is preferably embodied in the detailed construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my circuit controller; Fig. 2 is a. sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along they line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic operating system for my circuit controller; and Fig. 6 is a simplied circuit diagram of connections showing my circuit controller arranged to control the series field of a dynamoelectric machine.

Referring now to the drawing, my circuit controller'ccmprises a support I0 preferably made of cast metal and formed to provide pneumatic cylinders II and I2 Iadjacent each other in parallel relation and having a pair of integrally formed upright; supporting members I3 and I4 at op site ends of the cylinder block. The lower ends of the pneumatic cylinders are closed by a plate I5 connected to the casting I0 by a plurality of bolts I6. A contact supporting bridge I1, preferably made of Ia molded insulating material, is positioned above the pneumatic cylinders II and .I2 between thev upper ends of the supports I3 and I4. The supportl I1 has attached thereto a pair of fixed contacts I8 and I9 connected to terminal `blocks :25 and 26, respectively. As shown in Fig. 2 the contacts I8 and the terminal block 25 are connected to the support I'I by a bolt 2l countersunk from the top of the support Il. The contact I9 is similarly connected to the support I1. -A block of insulating material 28 mounted upon the casting I0 between the cylinders I I and I2 carries a fixed .contact 29 connected to a terminal block 30.- ."Ihe terminal blocks 25, 26, and 30 are preferably threaded as indicated at Figs. 1 and'2to, provide means for vconnection ofexternal conductors. For mounting the controller upon asupport a pair of brackets 3|, 32 are secured to the support I1 in any suitable manner. Ihe castingl I0 -is provided with bosses 33 bored and threaded for attachment of a suitable cover plate. n j y Each' of the cylinders I I and I2 is provided with a pneumatic piston of similar construction. At Fig. 2 is shown the piston 35 located in the cylinder I2. The piston35 is bolted to a connecting rod 36 which is supported in a guidebearing 3l formed in the cylinder head and is provided on its high pressure lower side with a packing disk 38. A compression spring 39, which engages the upper side of the piston and the under side of the `,cyl-- inder head, biases the piston to its lowermost position within th'e cylinder. The connecting .rod 36 a block of insulating material 40 to which is connected a movable contact 4I by any suitable 42.

Referring now particularly 'to Figs. 1 and 3, a connecting rod 43 carried by the piston located` in the cylinder II and similar in form to the connecting rod 36`v has pivotally mounted at the top thereof a oating lever 44. The oating lever 44 is preferably formed of electrically conducting material and carries at its one end a movable normally open contact 45' and at its other end a movable normally closed contact 46. That end means such as a bolt l of the floating lever 44 which carries the normally vided at their upper ends with atmospheric vents closed contact 46 is biased downwardly by a com- 84 and 85, respectively.

pression spring 50 positioned between the upper My new and improved circuit controller is side of the iioating lever 44 and the supporting preferably connected to the series eld of a member I1. As shown at Fig; 1 the member I1 is 5 dynamo-electric machine in the manner shown preferably bored to permit the use of a reasonschematically at Fig. 6. At Fig. 6 I have shown ably long compression spring even though the a main generator 90 having a shunt field 9| and support I1 is positioned closely 'adjacent to the a series field 92 connected through a line'confloating lever 44 for spaced considerations. As tactor 93a. to a load circuit includingan electric indicated at Fig. 2 the support I1 may be bored. 1u motor 93. Connected across the shunt held 9| completely through so that the compression and a eld resistor 94 for engine cranking operaspring 50 engages a strip 5| of electrically contion I have shown a battery 95 and a manually ducting material rmly connected to the top of operable starting switch 96. Preferably the series the supporting bridge I1. Since in my preferred field 92 is divided into a main central portion circuit arrangement the metallic strip 5| is per- 15 including the major part of the series field windmanently electrically connected to the movable ing and two small auxiliary end portions 91 and normally closed contact 46, engagement of the 96. The auxiliary portion 91 of the series field spring 50 with the strip 5| is not objectionable. winding is used only during engine cranking op- AS Clearly ShOWn in Fg- 2, S'fflaDS 52 and 53 0f eration and in series with the main portion of the flexible electrically conducting material make field, The port-,ion 9a of the series field is perpermanent electrical connection between the manently in the power circuit during generating conducting strip 5| and the movable normally operation and is unaffected by the operation of closed contact 46 and between the conducting my circuit eontrouer, The main central portion strip 5| and the movable Contact 4|, respeof, the series field 92 is connected to be shunted tively. 25 through a series circuit including both the nor- Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a pair of mally open and the normally closed contacts 45 valve blocks 60 and 6| are bolted one above the and 46, respectively, carried by the floating lever other to the rear side of thecasting I0 as by 44. The normally closed contacts 29' and 46 bolts 54 in order to control the admission of are connected to be shunted by the normally open air to and the exhaustion of air from the pneucontacts I8 and v4| ofv the circuit controller matic cylinders I2 and II, respectively. AS through a resistor 99. e

clearly indicated at Fig. 4 the valve block 6I is For actuation of the pneumatic pistons in the connected at one end to an electromagnet core desired time relation, I have shown at Fig. 6 a 62 upon which isawound an actuating coil 63. In manually operable controller |00 comprising a like manner thevalve block is provided with 35 pair of cams |0| and |02 arranged to actuate an electromagnetic actuating means including a pair of cam switches |03 and |04 respectively. a coil 64. The actuating/coils 63 and 64 are fitted As indicated at Fig. 6 closure of the cam switch withv terminal connectors 64a, as best shown at |03 completes an energizing circuit for the actu-` Fig. 3. Since the valve blocks and their electroating coil 63 thereby to raise the floating lever magnetic actuating, means are of similar con- 4u 44, while closure of the cam switch |04 coinstruction, only the block 6| shown in Fig. 4 will pletes an energizing circuit for the actuating be described in detail. As maybe seen at Fig. coll 64 thereby to raise the movable contact 4|. 4, the electromagnet 62-63 is provided with an The cam segments |0| and |02 on the controller armature 65 pivotally mounted upon a support drum |00 are arranged in overlapping relation 66' bolted to the valve block 6|.'V The electro- 45 so that the cam switch |04 will be closed before magnet core 62 is centrally bored to receive a the cam switch |03 is open. Thus, in the first valve operating rod 61 formed to provide'a pair position of the controller |00, only the cam of needle valves 68 and 69 within'the valve block switch |03 is closed and air is admitted only to 6|. A compression spring 10 having one end the cylinder I'I, in the full on position of the seated against an adjusting screw 1| biases the 50 controller only the cam switch |04 `lsvclosed and needle valve assembly to open the valve 68 and air is admitted only to the cylinder I2, but in to close the valve 69. passing from the firstposition to the full on The casting I0 is provided with an inlet port position air is admitted to the cylinder I2 before 15 for connection to a main source of compressed the air is exhausted from the cylinder ThusI air supply, and each valve block 60, 6| is pro- 55 the pneumatic pistons are operated sequentially vided with an atmospheric vent 16. As shown in overlapping time relation. In operation, the

at Fig. 4, and as more fully indicated diagramgenerator may be used to crank the engine matically at Fig. 5, the casting I0 and the valve b y closing the 'starting switch 96. Since at the mocks so and 6| are provided with suitable pastime the @am swltches |03 and |04 are open, the

pistons and I2 are not actuated and only the sages forsupplying compressed air from the inlet 60 contacts 29, 46 are in engagement. A starting port 15 to each of the pneumatic cylinders and circuit is thus completed from the battery I2 and for exhausing air from each-of the cylinders to their respective atmospheric vents 16. .grlrough the Stai-'mg swltch ,96' the shunt field speoifioa11y,theiniet port unconnected to the h and the fesstor 94 and m parallel through valve block 6| bya passageway so and to' the 65 t e generator 90, the contacts 29, 46 and the valve block so by a passageway al An inlet and portions 92 and 91 of the generator` series field To initiate acceleration of the vehicle the conexhaust passageway 82 connects the valve block troner |00 is moved from its i dllng osition to 6I with the lower end of the pneumatic cylinder its first position., and the une contagtor 93a is Hl- An inlet and exhaust passageway 83 con' 70 simultaneously closed to connect the motor 93 to nests the valve block 60 'with the lower end 0f the generator so. with the eontroiier lun in its the pneumatic Vcylinder I2. In order to avoid first position the cam switch |03 is dosed to GOmDI'eSSOn 0f ail' above the Pneumatic Pistons complete an energizing circuit for the actuating when. compressed air is admitted to the lower coil 63 to actuate the valve 6|. Actuation of the sides thereof, the cylinders II and I2 are prO- 75 valve 6I completes a connection through thepasits full on l the cam segment to disable sage 82 between the` inlet port 15 and the pneumatic cylinder The application of air pressure to the lower side of the pneumatic piston in the cylinder raises the connecting rod 43 and moves the contact 45 on the floating lever 44 into engagement with the stationary contact I9. During movement of the contact 45 the opposite end of the lever 44 which carries the contact 46 remains stationary due` to the pressure exerted by the compression spring 50. As the upward movement of the connecting rod 43 continues after the contact 45 engages the contact |9, the contact 46 is separated from the stationary contact 29 against thebias of the spring 50. Thus,l

the movable contacts 45' and 46 respectively engage and disengage their cooperating fixed contacts sequentially, irst to shunt the main portion of the series in series with the motor circuit. Thus in the rst position of the controller |00, the generator series field includes the main section of the eld and-the small auxiliary section 98.

If the manual controller |00 is now moved to position the cam switch |04 is first closed by the cam segment |02 to complete an energizing circuit for the actuating coil 64, and subsequently the cam switch |03 is opened by the actuating coil applies air pres- |2 andraises the 4| and I8'. Clo- 63.- Actuation of the valve 60 sure -to the pneumatic cylinder piston 35 to close the contacts sure of the contacts 4| and I8 shunts the main portion of the series field Winding 92 through the resistor 99. Subsequent deenergization of the Vactuating coil 63 vents the cylinder to atmosphere through the passageway 82 and allows the floating lever 44 to return to its normal deenergized position. In moving back to itsdeenergized position, the lever 44 first closes the contacts 29 and 46 completely to short circuit the main portion of the series iield Winding, and then opens the contacts |9'and 45, to disconnect the main portion of the series field Winding from the motor circuit and to complete a new motor circuit through the contacts 29 and 46Y and the small auxiliary portion 98 of the series eld winding.

Although I have shown and described but one preferred embodiment of my invention by way of illustration, manyl modiiications will occur to those skilled in theart.A I, therefore, Wish to have it understood that I intendby the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent' of the United States is:

1. A circuit controller for the series eld winding of a dynamo-electric machine comprising a plurality of xed contacts, a floating lever provided at one end with a movable normally closed contact and at the other end with a movable normally open contact for cooperation each with one of said fixed contacts, spring means connected to one end of said lever to bias said movable contacts to their normal positions, first operating means connected to said floating lever intermediate its ends, means for lconnecting said normally open and normally closed contacts in series across said series field winding, a movable contact member cooperating with a third xed contact, second operating means for said movable contact member, connections for shunting said normally closed contacts through said third xed contact and a resistor, and control means for actuating said iirst and second operfield 92and then to connect it ing of a dynamo-electric ating means sequentially in overlapping time relation. r 2. A circuit controllerv for the series fleld windmachine comprising a support formed to provide a pair of pneumatic cylinders, a' pair of pneumatic pistons slidably mounted in said cylinders, a oating lever connected to one of said pistons, a pair of movable contacts mounted at opposite ends of said lever, a rst fixed contact positioned normally to engage one of said movable'cotacts, a second fixed contact positioned in normally spaced relation to the other of said movable contacts, spring means engaging one end of said lever to bias said movable'contacts for sequential operation thereby to insure that at last one of said movable contacts is in -engagement with its cooperating xed contact at all times, means for connecting said xed and movable contacts in series circuit relation'across at least a field winding, a third xed able contact connected to normal spaced relation to contact, a third movsaid other piston in said third xed contact, connections for shunting-.said normally engaged movable contact through said third movable contact and a resistor, valve means for admitting air to and exhausting air from said cylinders, and electromagnetic control means for actuating said valve means sequentially in overlapping time relation; s

3. A circuit controller for the series iield winding of a dynamo-electric machine comprising a support formed to provide a pair of pneumatic cylinders, a pair of pneumatic pistons slidably mounted in said cylinders, a iioating lever connected at its center to one of said pistons, a plurality of xed contacts mounted upon said support above said cylinders',A mally closed contact mounted upon one end of vsaid iloating lever normally to engage one of said xed contacts, a movable normally open contact mounted upon the other end of said lever in normal 'spaced relation to a second of said fixed contacts, a compression open contact engages its cooperating fixed contact, means for shunting said ing through a series circuit including said nory movable contact member and a resistor, valve ually operable control means for energizing said electromagnetic means sequentially in overlapping time relation. v

4. A circuit controller for the series eld Windingy of adynamo-electric machine comprising a cast frame formed to provide a pair of pneumatic cylinders in parallel spaced relation and a pair of upright end supports, a bridging support of insulating material above said cylinders, a pair of pneumatic pistons in said cylinders, a nected at its center to one of said pistons, a pair of movable contacts mounted at opposite ends of said lever, a first fixed contact mounted upon said frame and positioned normally to engage one portion of said series a movable norcarried by said end supports floating lever pivotally conof said movable contacts, a second fixed contact.

mounted upon said bridging support and positioned in normally spaced relation to the other of said movable contacts, a compression spring` engaging said floating lever adjacent said normally engaged movable contact to bias said movable contact for sequential operation thereby to insure that at least one of said movable contacts engages one of said fixed contacts at al1 times, means for connecting said xed and movable contacts in series circuit relation across at least a portion of said series field winding, a movable contact member connected to the other of said pistons in normal spaced'relation to a third fixed contact carried by said'bridging support, means for shunting said normally engaged contacts through a circuit including said movable contact member and a resistor, a pair of valve blocks mounted upon said frame to control said pistons, said frame and sa'd valve blocks being provided with a plurality of interconnecting passageways, a pair of electromagnets mounted upon said valve blocks, each of said electromagnets having an armature operatively connected to a movable valve member formed to provide a plurality of needle valves, and a manually operable v assodato controller for energizing said electromagnet sequentially in overlapping time relation.

5. In combination a dynamo-electric machine having a series field winding, switching means for said series field winding comprising a floating lever pivotally mounted at its center and carrying at its opposite ends normally closed and normally open contacts, connections between said contacts and said winding for shunting said winding and for connecting said winding in circuit with said machine through said contacts, actuating means for said switching means arranged sequentially to close said normally open contact and to open said normally closed contact thereby first to shunt said series eld winding and to connect it in circuit with said machine and subsequently to unshunt said winding, said switching means being arranged for reverse operation upon disabling of said actuating means, and second switching means actuable prior to disabling of said actuating means to shunt said series field winding through a resistor, whereby said series eld winding may be inserted and gradually disabled without interrupting the circuit of said machine.

HAROLD S. OGDEN. 

